Reading attachment for beds



Oct. 10, 1944. c, D; BURTO 2,359,895

READING ATTACHMENT FOR BEDS Filed July 8,- 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Oct. 10, 1944. c. D BURTON 2,359,895

READING ATTACHMENT FOR BEDS Filed July 8, '1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I I //I Z5 A9 /5 2'2 Z [I' I, I W

Patented Oct. 10, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE READING ATTACHMENT FORJ BEDS Courtland D. Burton, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application July 8, 1943, Serial No. 493,914

the panel I! and through this is disposed a flex- 2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in reading attachments for beds whereby books, magazines, newspapers and the like may be supported above a person while in reclined position.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a printed matter supporting attachment for beds which will permit patients or invalids to lie on their backs and read without being raised to a sitting or inclined position.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which can be readily adjusted to meet individual needs.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a side elevational View of the device shown applied to a bed.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figu e 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section through the supporting bracket.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 5 denotes the back of a bed, while numeral 6 generally refers to the present invention supported by said bed back.

The invention includes a supporting element that embodies a clamp 1 including a pair of clamp screws 8 which ar driven against a protector 9 which, in turn, embraces the upper portion of the bed back 5.

A collar I6 is located on the clamp I and through this is vertically disposed a rod II which can be held in place by a set screw l2 feedable into the collar I 0.

A T-fitting I3 is provided at the upper end of the rod II and through this is horizontally disposed a slidable rod M which has a head I5 at its rear end and which at its forward end has an inclined portion I6 attach-ed to the uppermost portion of a panel H, which is substantially frusto-conical in shape and at the upper narrow portion attached to the portion l6 of the rod I4, Th inclined portion l6 causes the panel I! to set at an angle as shown in Figure 1 which will be the proper reading angle for a person with his head on the pillow A.

A cleat I8 is provided at the lower portion of ible wire is, the upper end of which may be attached to the portion l6 of the rod Hi. The lower portion of this wire l9 has a threaded formation 20, below the cleat l8 and this is equipped with a wing nut 2!. Obviously, by loosening the wing nut 2|, books, magazines and the like can be positioned behind the wire l9 and by tightening the nut 2| they will be firmly held in place.

For holding the pages of books and magazines and also for the purpose of holding newspapers without the aid of the wire l9, spring clips 22, 22 are provided, one off to each side of the wire I9. Each of these spring clips 22 has a bolt 23 which is disposed through a slot 24 extending inwardly from the corresponding end of the panel I1. Each of these bolts 23 is equipped with a nut 25 which when tightened will firmly hold the spring clip 22 in position.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, siz and materials may be resorted to without departing from th spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A device for holding a book or the like in position to be conveniently read by a person lying on his or her back in a bed or th like, comprising a supporting element, a vertical rod carried by and adjustable vertically relative to said supporting element, a horizontally adjustable horizontal rod carried by the upper end of said vertical rod, one end portion of said horizontal rod extending upwardly at an obtuse angle to but in the same vertical plane as the remainder of said horizontal rod, 2. panel disposed transversely of said horizontal rod and fixed at its top to the end of the upwardly extending end portion of said horizontal rod so as to depend from the latter at an inclination downwardly and away from the vertical rod, and means to hold the book or the like in an open condition on th under surface of said panel.

2. A device for holding a book or the like in position to be conveniently read by a person lying on his or her back in a bed or the like, comprising a supporting element, a vertical rod carried by and adjustable vertically relative to said supporting element, said vertical rod having a horizontal tubular member at its upper end, a horizontal rod having one end portion slidably adjustable through said tubular member, said horizontal rod being straight except for its other end zontal rod so as to depend from the latter at an portion, said other end portion extending upinclination downwardly and away from the vertiwardly at an obtuse angle to but in the same vercal rod, and means to hold the book or the like tical plane as the remainder of said horizontal in an open condition on the under surface of the rod, a panel disposed transversely of said hori- 5 panel.

zontal rod and fixed at its top to the end of the COUR'I'LAND D. BURTON. upwardly extending end portion of said hori- 

